Spain's Supreme Court handed down prison sentences of 9–13 years Monday to 9 Catalan separatist leaders for sedition over their roles in the 2017 independence referendum, the BBC reports. 3 others were not sentenced after being found guilty of disobedience, per Al Jazeera.
Why it matters: Catalonia declared its independence from Spain following the vote, causing the Spanish government to impose direct rule and dissolve the autonomous Catalan government. The court's decision has triggered massive protests by pro-independence supporters in the Catalan capital, Barcelona, video posted by activists and journalists on the scene shows.
In front of the headquarters of Omnium Cultural, cultural organization whose president @jcuixart was just sentenced nine years in jail for participating in a nonviolent demonstration. #HoTornaremAFer #Barcelona #Catalonia #DiscrepanciaIntensa pic.twitter.com/kJzKVarihE
— Liz Castro (@lizcastro) October 14, 2019
Go deeper:
